USDA Postpones Farmer Aid Package Details

Aid package for farmers was delayed over the weekend. Full details will come out on Monday, according to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue.

Politico says Perdue made the announcement during an appearance at a dairy farm in New York. “We acknowledge that dairy, pork, and soybeans will be the commodities most affected by the tariffs,” says Perdue. He says the Ag Department is still on track to “roll the program out right after Labor Day.”

Commodity groups are unsure about how the payments will be determined. The groups are on edge after a report earlier this week saying soybeans would get $1.65 per bushel and corn will only receive a penny per bushel. If true, that will mean soybean growers get the majority of the payments.

However, Perdue cast doubt on those figures last week. The Secretary made several appearances at dairy farms in upstate New York and fielded a lot of questions about the direction of the administration’s trade fight. Perdue says he’s hopeful the administration will get an agreement with Mexico on two-way NAFTA issues soon. That should pave the way for a larger agreement once Canada returns to the talks.